Top 8 recipes for making basil compote for the winter

Adults, and especially children, love compotes made from apples or plums. In summer, these drinks quench thirst, and in winter and spring, they replenish the body with vitamins and essential acids. Many herbs are used to make warming teas, decoctions, and infusions, which are used for medicinal purposes. Basil helps fight colds, and women rarely close their jars of this herb compote for the winter, even though it's very easy to prepare and has a rich, unique flavor that many people enjoy.

The health benefits of basil compote

The dried leaves of this aromatic plant are used to season salads, soups, and sauces, and the greens are added to meat dishes. This spicy herb is rich in essential oils that fight infection, reduce inflammation, and provide relief from sore throats and respiratory illnesses.

The compote preserves:

• tannins;
• glycosides;
• carotene;
• phytoncides.

A basil drink relieves fatigue, strengthens the immune system, invigorates, eliminates headaches and toothaches, normalizes blood pressure, and prevents the formation of kidney stones.

If you drink the compote not for 3-4 days, but for at least 2 weeks:

1. Digestion is improved.
2. Insomnia goes away.
3. Blood circulation is enhanced.
4. Cholesterol levels are reduced.

Basil juice treats stomatitis and calms nerves, but can be harmful to diabetics, those with thrombophlebitis, and stomach ulcers. Excessive consumption of the compote can lead to allergies.

Necessary ingredients

To prepare the drink, use fresh purple basil leaves. This particular variety gives the compote a hue reminiscent of red currant juice. You'll also need purified water and citric acid. You can add berries and citrus fruits to the drink for a richer flavor.

Preparing containers

For long-term storage of compote, use glass jars without chips or cracks. The containers are wiped with baking soda or mustard powder, rinsed, dried, and disinfected to remove germs and fungi by sterilization:

• in a pan with boiling water;
• in a microwave oven;
• in the oven;
• over the steam.

Three-liter containers are disinfected for 25–30 minutes, 2-liter jars for 15 or 20 minutes, and 1–10 minutes. Metal lids and rubber seals are doused with boiling water.

Delicious basil compote recipes

When preparing a vitamin drink for the winter, clean fresh leaves of this aromatic herb can be first doused with cold water, which is then heated, or immediately thrown into boiling water.

Classic recipe with lemon

An invigorating and refreshing compote of spices for the winter is easiest and quickest to prepare using the traditional method without additives.

To make a drink from a bunch of basil, you will need:

• lemon;
• 10 tbsp. water;
• 100 g of sugar.

Only the root and part of the tough stem are removed from the plant. If the greens are slightly wilted, soak them for a couple of hours, then chop the basil leaves into pieces. Clean the lemon with a brush to remove any dirt, chop it with the peel, combine with sugar and herbs, add water, and simmer for 15 minutes.

The drink is strained through a sieve, simmered for a few minutes, then poured into a sterile container, which is sealed for the winter. In summer, the compote is served with ice cubes.

A healthy drink can also be made from the dried leaves of the spice, but it doesn't have a bright taste and is more reminiscent of tea or infusion than compote.

Apple drink with basil

On a hot day, you want to cool down, in the winter cold, you want to warm up, and after a hard day's work, you want to feel energized. All of this is guaranteed by a fragrant, vitamin-rich drink made from apples and herbs. To create a sweet, sour, and refreshing compote, we recommend using:

• 2 liters of water;
• 3 Antonovka fruits;
• 3 sprigs of basil;
• 100 g sugar;
• fresh mint;
• 5 ml lemon juice.

The fruit needs to be washed and cut into pieces, mixed with herb leaves, boiled in boiling water for 10 minutes, and combined with sugar.

To give the drink a bright pink color, lemon juice is added. In summer, it's served chilled, like a regular fruit or berry compote.

Let's prepare a fragrant drink with citric acid.

Basil leaves should not be broken or crushed, otherwise they will lose their flavor, and wilted leaves will not produce a beautiful and tasty compote. When preparing the drink for the winter, it's better to use citric acid rather than juice as a preservative; 5 grams per 3 liters of liquid is sufficient.

Rinse 5 or 6 basil sprigs with firm leaves and stems under the tap, removing only the roots. Place them in a saucepan and combine with 2 cups of sugar. Add water and simmer for 10 minutes. When the liquid turns pink, strain, bring to a boil, and store in a sterile container.

Assorted gooseberries with basil for the winter

Berry compotes boast a vibrant flavor and a pleasant tartness. Red or black currants are most often used, but a distinctive, richly colored drink can be made with gooseberries and purple basil.

To do this you will need:

• 4 sprigs of herbs;
• 1/6 lemon:
• 0.250 kg sugar;
• 2 cups of berries.

The leaves are carefully washed, the gooseberries are sorted, debris and twigs are removed, and they are placed under the tap.

Place the berries, basil, and a couple of lemon slices in a sterile 3-liter container, then add boiling water. After 20–25 minutes, strain the liquid into a saucepan with sugar and heat until the crystals dissolve. Fill the jar with the hot syrup, along with the gooseberries and spice mix, and seal with a lid.

Cherry and basil compote

This delicious drink, which preserves essential oils, helps fight colds just as well as tea with honey. To prepare it, use:

• 2 cups of cherries and sugar;
• purple basil;
• 5 g citric acid.

Place washed and cleaned berries and fresh herb sprigs in a glass container, then add boiling water. Once the liquid has cooled, strain, combine with sugar and acid, simmer for 2–3 minutes, then fill the jar with the cherries and seal hermetically for storage.

Pear preparation with spicy herbs

Refreshing drinks are made from a variety of fruits, including basil, and lemon balm is often added. To surprise your family with a fragrant compote:

1. Three liters of water are placed in a saucepan on the stove and brought to a boil.
2. Place sliced ​​pears into the liquid, add 100 g of sugar, and add 3 sprigs of aromatic herbs.
3. The drink is boiled for 5 minutes, combined with citric acid, and poured into a sterile container.

To make this vitamin-rich compote, use 400-500 g of fruit. Pears can be substituted with peaches or plums, and three sprigs of lemon catnip can be added for a unique aroma.

With apricots

Surprise your family and guests with a refreshing drink made from green basil leaves, a favorite of Mediterranean people. In addition to three sprigs of basil, you'll need:

• lemon;
• 10 glasses of water;
• 500 g apricots;
• from 150 to 170 g of sugar.

Wash the fruits and greens under the tap, place them in a saucepan, pour in cool water, add lemon juice, and the peel. Simmer the liquid with the ingredients for 15 minutes. Once the drink has steeped, strain it, combine it with sugar, and, once it boils, fill the jars.

With lemon and honey

Basil pairs beautifully with citrus fruits, adding a special zest to the spiced compote. To make this light and healthy drink, use:

• 2 lemons:
• a bunch of fresh herbs;
• 100–150 g of honey.

Heat 3 liters of water in a saucepan, add basil greens and let stand for 30 minutes.

The juice is squeezed from the citrus fruit, added to the liquid, and honey is added. The drink is consumed hot; in hot weather, it is served over ice, after straining out the herbs.

Duration and storage conditions

Compote prepared with basil alone or with fruit will not spoil for up to six months if poured into sterile containers and lemon juice or acid has been added. Store cans of the drink in a dark place where the temperature is no higher than 18°C ​​– in a basement, pantry, or on a closed balcony. It is important that the temperature does not drop to 0.